Marathon County, Wisconsin

Marathon County, Wisconsin
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 138,013. Marathon County's seat is Wausau. It was founded in 1850, created from a portion of Portage County. At that time the county stretched to the northern border with the upper Michigan peninsula. It is named after the battlefield at Marathon, Greece.
Marathon County comprises the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Wausau–Stevens Point–Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.0%) is water. It is the largest county in Wisconsin by land area and fourth-largest by total area.
The Marathon County Park Commission has posted a geographical marker that identifies the spot (45°N, 90°W) of the exact center of the northern half of the Western Hemisphere, meaning that it is a quarter of the way around the world from the Prime Meridian and halfway from the Equator to the North Pole.
Major highways
Interstate 39
US Highway 51
Wisconsin Highway 13
Wisconsin Highway 29
Wisconsin Highway 34
Wisconsin Highway 49
Wisconsin Highway 52
Wisconsin Highway 97
Wisconsin Highway 107
Wisconsin Highway 153
Railroads
Canadian National
Watco
Buses
Metro Ride
List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin
Airports
KAUW - Wausau Downtown Airport
KCWA - Central Wisconsin Airport
Adjacent counties
Lincoln County - north
Langlade County - northeast
Shawano County - east
Waupaca County - southeast
Portage County - south
Wood County - south
Clark County - west
Taylor County - northwest
Natural wildlife refuges
Mead Wildlife Area
Demographics
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, the population was 138,013. The population density was . There were 59,828 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 86.9% White, 6.2% Asian, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.3% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 125,834 people, 47,702 households, and 33,868 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 50,360 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.84% White, 0.28% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.6% were of German and 13.6% Polish ancestry. 92.9% spoke English, 3.4% Hmong, 1.1% German and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 47,702 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 23.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.
Libraries
The Marathon County Public Library (MCPL) has its headquarters in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin. Eight branch libraries have been established in the cities of Athens, Edgar, Hatley, Marathon City, Mosinee, Rothschild, Spencer, and Stratford.
Recreation
County parks
Amco County Park
Big Eau Pleine County Park
Big Rapids County Park
Bluegill Bay County Park
Cherokee County Park
Courthouse Square
D.C. Everest County Park
Dells of the Eau Claire County Park
Duane L. Corbin Shooting Range Park
Library Park
Marathon Park
Mission Lake County Park
Mountain-Bay State Park Trail
Reitbrock Geographical Marker
Rib Falls County Park
Sunny Vale County Park
Snowmobile trails
There are over 884 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Marathon County maintained by 29 area snowmobile clubs.
Communities
Cities
Abbotsford (mostly in Clark County)
Colby (mostly in Clark County)
Marshfield (mostly in Wood County)
Mosinee
Schofield
Wausau (county seat)
Villages
Athens
Birnamwood (mostly in Shawano County)
Dorchester (mostly in Clark County)
Edgar
Elderon
Fenwood
Hatley
Kronenwetter
Maine
Marathon City
Rothschild
Spencer
Stratford
Unity (partly in Clark County)
Weston
Towns
Bergen
Berlin
Bern
Bevent
Brighton
Cassel
Cleveland
Day
Easton
Eau Pleine
Elderon
Emmet
Frankfort
Franzen
Green Valley
Guenther
Halsey
Hamburg
Harrison
Hewitt
Holton
Hull
Johnson
Knowlton
Marathon
McMillan
Mosinee
Norrie
Plover
Reid
Rib Falls
Rib Mountain
Rietbrock
Ringle
Spencer
Stettin
Texas
Wausau
Weston
Wien
Census-designated places
Knowlton
Rib Mountain
Unincorporated communities
Ashley
Bradley
Cherokee
Corinth
Dancy
Emmerich
Evergreen
Gad (partial)
Galloway
Glandon
Granite Heights
Halder
Hamburg
Hogarty
Holt
Johnson
Kalinke
Little Chicago
Little Eau Claire
Little Rose
Mann
March Rapids
McMillan
Milan
Moon
Mount View
Naugart
Norrie
Nutterville
Pike Lake
Poniatowski
Rangeline
Rib Falls
Ringle
Rocky Corners
Rozellville
Schnappsville
Snell
Shantytown
Sunset
Swan
Taegesville
Weber
Wien
Wuertsburg
Ghost towns/neighborhoods
Callon
Staadts
Stettin
Ziegler
Politics
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Marathon County, Wisconsin
Blackberry Hill
References
External links
Marathon County
Libraries and Schools in Marathon and Lincoln Counties - Digital collection of historic images and texts on schools and libraries in Marathon and Lincoln Counties
1850 establishments in Wisconsin
Populated places established in 1850